Microsoft considering acquistion of RIM?

The Mobile World Congress kicks off in just a few days from now in Barcelona. Ahead of it there has been plenty of rumors and previews as to what to expect this year. But this newest rumor is a little upsetting to any BlackBerry addict. Could we be seeing this logo one day?

According to multiple sources, Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer is repeatedly expressing interesting in purchasing RIM. Looking at the numbers, it certainly is not impossible. While RIM has market value of about $38 billion, Microsoft has them beat with a market value of $246 billion. Makes RIM look pretty small in comparison.

This all comes on the heels of the announcement that CEO Steve Ballmer will be hosting Microsoft's press conference next week at the Mobile World Congress. He's expected to detail their latest OS for Windows Mobile smartphones.

But honestly, can you see Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis agreeing to be bought by Microsoft? Truthfully, I would be shocked if something like this were to happen. With BlackBerry still kicking ass in the smartphone world and the Curve being the top selling smartphone, it would be hard for anyone to believe RIM would surrender to Microsoft. Though on the other hand, maybe it would help BlackBerry appeal more to consumers, an area in which they are lacking in as everybody knows.

If Microsoft bought RIM, some would say that it would help RIM's image, but I don't ever see this happening. RIM is an extraordinary business that is doing well on it's own, they don't need a big brother to coach them through anything.

Best to keep my trap shut on this one considering my location to RIM and friends working there.

Oh what the hell, not known for being shy...WTF!!! Another Canadian company that has proven it's success on the world market being courted by Microsoft? Just what the Tri-City area needs, more unemployment as we all know if this sale did go through, the company would not remain in Waterloo. Question that needs to be asked is if RIM says no way in hell, how many patent lawsuits are they facing with Microsoft?

Secondly, we have a product with RIM that works for the most part, albeit minor glitches with operating systems just released. However, the crack team here at BBOS readily takes care of that in a very timely fashon. Can you imagine a Microsoft Blackberry? Constantly requiring a reboot, apps that don't work and a guaranteed crash at least 3 times a day!

Here's hoping this is just a wish on Microsoft's behalf, and it going no further at RIM.

The mindset of "if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em" would be bad for everyone. Buying market share is a short term growth strategy that would ultimately dilute the BB brand in the long run--and at a very hefty price to MS.

(Just because I pay to be in the champagne room doesn't mean I'm cool enough to be in the champagne room.)

BTW, in case you read about it later, I have also "expressed interest" in buying RIM. Not sure if I'm gonna go through with it. Also thinking about picking up a ninja sword today....so, ya. Lots of choices.

I hope it won't happen... BlackBerry is now the best device a man would have because RIM's works and ideas... I don't think microsoft can do that (thinking of windows XP --> Vista --> 7 is not so interesting)... Well...... just my 2 cents..

I came from using WM and i got to tell you BB OS is way better in all the aspect you can imagine.....lets be realistic if that were to happen a lot of us would change to a different smart phone...including me!!!

This would totally suck. A Blackberry phone would not feel the same anymore. Microsoft will have a huge influence in the way RIM will operate. Windows OS is such a failed technology that Apple is eating away their share of the market more and more everyday. In the mobile business they continue to fail with their Windows Mobile as other new smartphone players enter the market.

If Microsoft wants to be a winner again, it needs to rewrite their entire OS all over again from the ground up using new technologies like Palm WebOS did. Google Android was written from the ground up 2 years ago and now look at how successful it is now.

I think buying RIM is a just short term fix to their problems. They need to be creative and innovative to stay alive. If the smartphone market have room for a couple new entrant why can't they come in fresh and re-engineer their entire operating system. Microsoft shareholders are making a bad investment if they choose to purchase RIM.

I would be shocked to see MS buy RIM. It would be smart on RIM's part to make money, but MS would have to kill off Windows Mobile. Or, another option would be to make Windows Mobile a consumer product and Blackberry a professional product.